For weeks now, we have had an online purported battle between two great female artists, Sheebah Karungi and Cindy Sanyu.
It is disheartening that a whole chattered academic institution, Victoria University Kampala, is sponsoring an event with a marketing strategy that appears to perpetuate harmful stereotypes and attitudes towards women, rather than uplifting them.
Both Sheebah and Cindy are great talents our generation is proud of. They both inspire different categories of women and girls. I may not miss a concert by Cindy because of her euphonious voice.
I cannot miss a Sheebah concert in Kampala because of her stage performance and of course her background. Sheebah’s story represents resilience and focus. Both artists have made it to those heights, not through bickering and social media stereotypes but through hard work.
The audience that has supported them deserves respect. It is demoralizing to witness an academic institution associating its name with values that undermine the progress those two women have made. It is crucial to guide them in the right direction.
Kololo airstrip can be filled if that event is promoted with positive values than reducing those artists to bickering, reducing their efforts to only houses and marriage. Don’t create the outdated impression that women can only make it through abusing each other. Such regressive attitudes have no space in this generation. We have had music battles before, who did they push to the world market?
Dear @VUKampala @ReachDrMuganga revise your strategy and be a champion of positive change. I come in peace. CSN
Calton Scovia Nakamya is a journalist working with BBS Telefayina